Articles

The Celebration of the Prophet's Birth and the Renewal of the Pledge with Allah
Author : The Grand Mufti, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Hasanat
Date Added : 17-09-2024

Every year, in the radiant month of Rabi' Al-Awwal, the Muslim Ummah throughout the world renews its celebration of a noble and momentous occasion that is deeply cherished by every believing Muslim: the birth of the Master of Creation and the Beloved of Allah, our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. His birth illuminated the world with light and extinguished its darkness. Our celebration of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is not confined to a single day or month; rather, it is an enduring commemoration that spans generations. Our joy in him is a testament to our love for him. Allah Says in the Quran (What means): "Say, 'In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy, in that let them rejoice. It is better than anything they accumulate.'" [Yunus/58]. This love for the Prophet is an enduring, ever-renewing faith that is a hallmark of true belief. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all people." [Agreed upon]. And when Umar Ibn Al-Khattab said to the Prophet: "You are more beloved to me than everything except myself," the Prophet replied: "No, O Umar, until I am more beloved to you than yourself." Umar said: "By Allah, you are now more beloved to me than myself." The Prophet said, "Now, O Umar." [Al- Bukhari]. Whoever fills their heart with love for the Prophet tastes the sweetness of faith. This sweet taste is experienced only by those whose hearts are filled with love for the Messenger of Allah. Love for the Prophet is not a mere optional act of devotion but a duty incumbent upon every Muslim. Indeed, everyone who truly knows the Prophet loves him, for he is the benefactor of this entire nation and of all humanity. Through him, we became a united nation that leads other nations and champions knowledge, civilization, and reason. He guided us out of the darkness of ignorance, superstition, and idol worship. He took humanity by the hand and invited them to the noblest of morals and values. He brought peace and balance to the human soul, ensuring harmony between its physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional aspects. He restructured social relations, eliminating disparities and class divisions, and established clear boundaries for rights and duties between leaders, institutions, individuals, men, and women. He established a just and equitable system that ensured equal opportunities for all. He built an economic system that preserved the nation's resources, eradicated poverty, and guaranteed a dignified life for the elderly, the disabled, widows, and orphans, both Muslim and non-Muslim. He eradicated harmful practices like usury, deceit, and hoarding. He established a political system and international relations based on strong foundations that ensured global peace. All of this and more is what we commemorate on the occasion of the Prophet's birth. Therefore, his birth was a pivotal point in the course of all humanity, and thus, loving him, peace be upon him, is obligatory upon everyone who knows him, for he is indeed a mercy to all the worlds. In addition, he worked to build individuals and, ultimately, a nation that was distinguished by its intellect and civilization, capable of leadership and pioneering in various fields. It became a model for other nations, fulfilling Allah's promise: "You are the best nation ever raised for mankind." [Al-Imran/110]. On the anniversary of his birth, we reflect on how he dealt with events, built the Islamic nation, confronted challenges and difficulties, planned for the nation's progress, and developed strategies and visions for the future. By celebrating his birth, we remember the glorious past of our nation, identify our shortcomings, seek remedies, and renew our determination. We follow the same path and approach that the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his noble companions charted. As a result, the nation united its goals, capabilities, and resources to achieve a dignified life for all humanity, befitting the divine honor bestowed upon them. The month of Rabi' Al-Awwal is a month for introspection. We examine our shortcomings, correct our course, and recommit ourselves to our mission. We identify our weaknesses and seek to address them. We learn from the reasons for the greatness of the Islamic nation and strive to emulate them. We discuss how the Prophet planned for this nation to be the leader of humanity and a pioneer in knowledge and civilization. Celebrating the Mawlid and commemorating the Prophet's attributes is not merely about singing his praises and expressing joy at his birth. Rather, it strengthens our resolve to adhere to his teachings and follow his Sunnah. It enables us to identify our problems and seek solutions in accordance with his methodology. Celebrating the Mawlid is a means of renewing our pledge to Allah and our covenant with the Prophet, always mindful of Allah's command, it Says (What means): "And say, 'Work, and Allah will see your work, and His Messenger, and the believers.'" (At-Tawba/105)."

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Summarized Fatawaa

What are the Sharia consequences when the sacrificial time for the uḍḥiyyah comes to an end?

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If the sun sets on the final day of Tashriq (the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah) and the Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) has not yet been slaughtered, its designated time has expired. Should a person slaughter it after this point, it will not be counted as an Udhiyah.
 
However, if the sacrifice was a vowed one (Mandhurah), they are strictly obligated to slaughter it as a makeup act (Qada’), and its meat must be distributed entirely according to the rules governing vowed sacrifices.
 
It is stated in Bushra al-Karim (p. 702): "If one slaughters after sunset on the final day [of Tashriq]... it does not count as an Udhiyah, unless it was a vowed sacrifice, in which case it is fulfilled as a makeup act (Qada’)." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

A man wishes to offer more than one uḍḥiyah (sacrificial offering), and intends by these sacrifices "on behalf of everyone whom Allah and His Messenger love." Is this intention valid?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The uḍḥiyah (sacrificial offering) is not valid with this intention, because if the sacrificial animal is from sheep or goats, it suffices for one person only; and if it is from cattle or camels, it suffices for seven persons.
However, one may sacrifice it on his own behalf, and then gift the equivalent of its reward to whomever he wishes.
Imam ar-Ramlī (raḥimahullāh) says: "Ash-Shāfi‘ī (raḍiyallāhu ‘anh) said: It is within the vastness of Allah's bounty, the Exalted, that He rewards the one giving charity as well. From this, the scholars of the madhhab said: it is recommended for a person to intend the charity on behalf of his parents, for example — for Allah, the Exalted, will reward them, without this diminishing his own reward in any way." He then relates, as the relied-upon position, the permissibility of saying: "O Allah, convey the reward of what I have recited specifically to so-and-so, and to the Muslims generally." Az-Zarkashī said: "For reward varies in degree — its highest form is what one designates specifically, and its lowest form is what one dedicates generally [alongside others]." [End of quote from Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

In the Sharia-compliant viewing  at a prospective bride (*al-naẓrah al-sharʿiyyah*), is it permissible for the man to see the woman without a veil (*ḥijāb*)?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is sunnah for the suitor to see the woman he is seeking to marry within the limits the Sharīʿah permits, namely looking at the face and the hands (palms and backs), based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Look at her, for it is more likely to bring about harmony between you.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
The suitor may also ask one of the women to look at the woman he is seeking to marry. In that case, she is permitted to see of her what she is normally permitted to see, which is not limited to the face and hands, and she then describes these matters to the suitor. It is narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Umm Sulaym to look at a girl, and said: “Smell her breath, and look at her heels.” Narrated by Aḥmad in his Musnad.
It is stated in Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.7/p.192): “For one who cannot easily look, or does not wish to look himself, it is sunnah to send someone who is permitted to look at her, to observe her and describe her to him, even regarding what he himself is not permitted to look at. He thereby gains through the sending what he would not gain through looking. Because of the added need for this, it is excepted from the prohibition of a woman describing another woman to a man.”
The permissibility of looking is conditional upon his resolve to marry her once he is able to, his predominant assumption that his proposal will be accepted, and his assumption that the woman is free of marriage and of a waiting period (ʿiddah). Otherwise, looking is forbidden.
Accordingly, it is not permissible for the suitor to look at anything other than the face and hands. He may ask one of his maḥram women, such as his mother or sister, to see the woman unveiled, and the Sharia-compliant viewing (of a prospective bride) must take place in the presence of one of the woman’s maḥrams. And Allah Almighty knows best.

A woman became pure [from menstruation] before Fajr, but did not perform ghusl until after sunrise — what is the ruling on her fast?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Her fast is valid, since ghusl (ritual bathing) is not a condition for the validity of the fast, but rather for the validity of the prayer. However, she is sinful for delaying the Fajr prayer beyond its designated time without a valid excuse.
It is known that the time for Fajr prayer ends at sunrise. Nevertheless, she must still perform ghusl, and make up the Fajr prayer. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.